Rules of the Road for Swimming with Wild Dolphins

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by Ecos

When you dive, you swim among the fish. I have never yet been able to touch one, but I try. I could touch something like a Sea Cucumber, but I don't want to.

How about one wearing a Heineken Beer label?

[Wendi]

My brother catching a ride.

[model 10]

Originally Posted by Nicholson58

How about one wearing a Heineken Beer label?

Did you try to remove it?

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by Ecos

Did you try to remove it?

Bonaire. Not allowed to touch anything alive. We do pick up debris.

I think it was a fashion statement.

[4K Beaches]

The same companies in Hawaii also offer swimming with manta rays at night... You are within touching distance of dozens of the manta rays. In this case the companies are attracted to money and provide lights and a boat, the plankton is attracted to the light and the manta rays are attracted to the food source. You can see the rest.

Video of Manta rays here. https://youtu.be/77rU2y3XKIc

[mikedefieslife]

Originally Posted by transmitterdan

Dolphins swim in bow wakes because it helps them go faster while exerting less energy. It’s similar to surfing. They like to go faster than any sharks that might be around.

You must have just made this up. Dolphins are way faster than 5-8knt sail boat. So much faster that they often swim off well ahead of the boat, or way behind or to the side of it then catch back up again. They do it with my catamaran that barley makes a bow wave.

[model 10]

[QUOTE=Nicholson58
I think it was a fashion statement.

What else could a slug like thing do?

[dougweibel]

Originally Posted by mikedefieslife

You must have just made this up. Dolphins are way faster than 5-8knt sail boat. So much faster that they often swim off well ahead of the boat, or way behind or to the side of it then catch back up again. They do it with my catamaran that barley makes a bow wave.

Agreed. If they wanted to conserve energy or go faster they would stay in the bow wave. That is not their behavior the many times we have had dolphins visit us while under way. Their behavior is that they are "surfing"; having a good time playing with the bow wave and often obviously just showing off to the humans watching with lots of jumps and other cavorting around.

[Nic Homan]

Hi
Here is an example of where it goes stupidly wrong and why distance restrictions are put in place. There is a certain beach on Kephalonia in Greece where saddle back turtles return each year to lay their eggs. This is well known and a thriving industry has grown up wizzing people around the bay so they can take photographs of themselves with the turtles. Unfortunately, the turtles are slow moving and float near or on the surface. They get hit frequently by the outboard engines that literally tear them to pieces. This happens a lot but does not deter the locals selling their services. It’s ok because they are making a living ar’nt they. Well it’s not OK it’s barking mad

[sanibel sailor]

There was a porpoise in England I think that was known to hook and drag swimmers with its penis. Kind of turning the tables!

[Chotu]

I really didn’t know there were any rules. Whenever porpoise or dolphins come around, they usually come right over. They are very interested in us.

[AKA-None]

There is a significant difference between them coming to you vs you going to them.

[gamayun]

In the US, the law is the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and its corresponding regs under the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). As in most rules, there's a lot of grey. A lot of countries don't even have laws for disturbing marine mammals. The problems arise when people feel inclined to feed wild animals and then they become nuisances or their behavior is altered, such as those sharks - they're probably looking for hand outs because someone has habituated them to the area. They're not seeking to be petted unless you're willing to pick parasites off them. Same with dolphins, as someone pointed out. They're not slapping the water to tell us hello; they do that because they're annoyed by your presence and it's a warning to stay back. As a general "rule," if a seal or dolohin comes to you and you're not offering them food, then it's not considered "harassment." If you chase after them closer than 500 yards, that's considered against US law. Especially if there is more than one vessel doing the same, you run the potential of cornering them. If a NMFS patrol officer spots you, you can be fined for that, too, but they don't have the manpower to run tickets on anything other than really agregious situations. They primarily rely on these guidelines and hope people make the right decisions.

Originally Posted by Pete17C

A link in the 'More Information' box at the bottom of the page you linked to

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/new-e...fe-viewing-new

says in New England and the mid Atlantic you only need to stay 150ft away from dolphins, and what happens if you're in the water and they approach you?

I also wonder why a lot of these bits of info include the term 'guidelines'? anyone know (have links to) the law?

[psaltydogs]

I was motoring in Juan de Fuca Strait, on a glassy-calm afternoon. My boat was a Cheoy Lee Offshore 27.



Along came a group of Dall's dolphins, who like to shoot by the boat from one quarter, under the boat and past the bow on the other side.


I went forward and lay on the deck, reaching down to the water with one arm. I could get my hand a few inches under the water. The smallest of the porpoise came alongside, slowed way down and remained under my hand, about four inches below, just out of my reach, and stayed there for almost a minute.



The others were going at three times my boat speed, while this one slowed to my glacial velocity of four knots.


It shows they are aware of humans on boats.

[conchaway]

Do what you like. If the dolphins don't like it, they will Kick your ass! bet on it!